As the world looks to Africa as one of the last remaining growth engines, Africa is looking to Korea for development tips. This is the exchange that brought over 150 diplomats from around 40 African nations to Seoul for the 2012 Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Conference on Tuesday.

The bi-annual meeting has helped strengthen economic relations between Korea and Africa since its inception in 2006.

Korea's trade with Africa has surged by 60 percent over the last five years, while investment has jumped 80 percent. During this time, the country's official development assistance to the continent soared by more than 260 percent.